Catching a record-breaking fish is an obsession for some, a passion for others, and a spectacle for the general public. The largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) is among America’s most popular game fish and an apex predator. Of course, defining a trophy is a personal matter that often depends on location. A 10-pound largemouth bass will hardly raise eyebrows in the South, while in most Northern states, a 6-pounder is considered a monster. However, the largest largemouth bass ever caught in Indiana is a whopper that weighed nearly twice what you’d expect. Continue reading to learn more about the largemouth bass and the story of the largest one ever caught in Indiana.
Largemouth Bass Facts
In Indiana, which has excellent fishing year-round, the best time to hook a largemouth bass is in the spring or fall, when the water temperature is ideal for spawning and feeding.
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The largemouth bass is a sunfish and is among North America’s most popular game fish. Bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus), crappies (Pomoxis), and perch (Perca) are also members of the sunfish family. Largemouth bass are aggressive apex predators that prey on crayfish, insects, and smaller fish. The largemouth bass is a popular game fish because it puts up a fight when hooked and frequently evades capture due to its power and tenacity.
The Largest Largemouth Bass Ever Caught in Indiana
The largest largemouth bass caught in Indiana weighed 14 pounds 12 ounces.
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The state record for the largest largemouth bass caught in Indiana weighed 14 pounds 12 ounces. Jenifer Schultz of Louisville, Kentucky, caught the Indiana state record largemouth bass on Memorial Day, May 27th, 1991, at Seven Springs Lake near Elizabeth, Indiana. Seven Springs Lake is technically a private lake with limited public access and only a boat ramp available for community members. Schultz, the second female state record holder, caught this monster using an original Rebel Pop-R P70 lure, 14-pound Berkley Trilene XT line, and a Berkley Series One 5 1/2-foot pistol grip rod.
The True Story of Indiana’s Largest Largemouth Bass
Jenifer Schultz knew she had hooked something exceptional the moment she saw the fish. Her husband arrived at the bank with a net in no time, and Schultz recalled that she did not say anything while fighting the fish.
The enormous bass tested Schultz’s drag two or three times, but the fish eventually tired and came within range of the net.
Jenifer Schultz was already an outstanding angler. She credits her husband for introducing her to bass fishing ten years before her record-breaking catch. Before their relationship, she primarily fished for panfish with her father. Her son, Jesse, went on to fish for Indiana University, won multiple collegiate angling events, and currently works for the Big 5 division of Major League Fishing.
Largemouth Bass Size
Largemouth bass can measure up to 30 inches long and weigh over 20 pounds.
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Most largemouth bass measure 13 to 20 inches long and weigh 1 to 5 pounds. Large individuals can measure 30 inches long and weigh more than 20 pounds. In most states, a largemouth bass that weighs 8 pounds or more is considered a trophy fish. In Indiana, largemouth bass grow at a rate of three to four inches per year for the first three years, then one to two inches annually until age eight, and less than an inch annually after that. These measurements are averages and can vary between individual fish, populations, and states.
The world record for largemouth bass is a tie between George Perry and Manabu Kurita. Perry caught a 22-pound 4-ounce largemouth bass in Montgomery Lake, Georgia, United States, on June 2, 1932. Kurita challenged this record when he caught a 22-pound, 4.96-ounce largemouth bass in Lake Biwa, Japan, on July 2, 2009. While Kurita’s catch weighed slightly more than Perry’s, the International Game Fish Association rules state that to establish a new record, the fish must weigh at least 2 ounces more than the current record. Therefore, Perry and Kurita are tied for the world record.
